Travel

2023 Travel Recap: 5 destinations, 2 continents

Europe, Travel / By / January 14, 2024

Its the new year. And I am starting as I mean to go on. The last year of my blog was all fits and starts but this year I aim to be regular and following a calendar. 

To start myself off, here’s a recap of my year – travel wise. It was an adventurous year and the overview is as colorful as possible!

Starting off in Style

The year started with a trip – in Paris. Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triomphe and the Montmartre – these were my sights for the first couple of days of 2023. The weather mostly co-operated and being there with my family was such a good time! While I saw some beautiful sites and had a great time with my family, Paris disillusioned me in some respects. Nevertheless, it was still worth a year end-new year trip. Read about it here.

The water beckons...

It was April and The Netherlands was still cold (atleast I felt so, being from a tropical country), so we wanted to escape to somewhere warm. Thus was arranged a trip to Albufeira, Portugal. Hot days, intensely blue waters and gorgeous craggy cliffs – what an absolutely invigorating vacation.

The kiddo loved the time-out, running about the beaches and having fun in the hotel playground.

Under The Tuscan Sun

The year’s next trip came up as early as May! Yep, a month after Portugal we were off to Italy. Tuscany greeted us with lush greenery. The weather was a mix of grey and brilliant slightly scorching sunshine but overall really pleasant. Pisa, Siena, Greve and Florence absolutely enchanted me. Such beauty that it leaves you stunned. The food, oh the food was soo good – ravioli, pasta, pizza and oh the desserts were just the stuff of dreams. Everything I ever though my Italian sojourn would be.

Getting to know the "Homeland"

June, July and August were when we enjoyed some of the sights in and around The Netherlands. Getting to know summer in our new homeland was pretty nice.

Rotterdam was an enjoyable day trip. The zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp) was interesting and the view from the top of the Euromast was fantastic.

Typical Dutch Summer Days

We also tried some quintessential Dutch experiences in the summer.

The Keukenhof gardens: Unimaginable varieties of tulips on full bloom, in a multitude of colours. A pretty, pretty sight!

And, enjoying a barbecue among the greenery!

Brussels in Belgium is a 3-hour drive from the Hague. So that was another day trip we took. It was a intensely sunny day so we checked out just a few sights and mostly relaxed in the shade.

This is how we made the most of summer time. (It’s still not summer if I have to keep jackets at hand, but what do I know?!)

Hues of Cote d'Azur

Then came September and we were off to the truly sunny climes of the South of France – Marseille. The sun was a bit extreme actually but none of that mattered because this port town was utterly delightful. History and nature existed in perfect harmony. The highlight of the trip though was the boat ride to The Calanques. Amazing!

Back to the roots

The final trip of the year was back home to India during festival season. Wherever we are, we try not to miss Durga Puja in Kolkata. Family, friends and food – the trifecta that is the oxygen of existence. It soothed tired minds, mended homesick hearts and recharged the soul for the next year away from all that is familiar.

Wrap up!

It would be an understatement to say the year was interesting and exciting travel wise. I do consider myself luck that I was in a position to take these trips to European cities and enjoy a full week there.

Time to plan for 2024. Happy New Year from Nils!

Meanwhile keep an eye on this space for the detailed posts on the above destinations.

London Journals – Part 3

London, Travel / By / August 22, 2023

A 6 day London Travel Story – Final Part

This is the final part of my 6 day London trip. Read about Part 1 and Part 2 where I visited most of the major attractions of London over a span of 4 days till now.

Here we are at Day 4 evening which was the view…

The Shard

After the Windsor Castle, I made my way back to central London as dusk fell. I was now headed to the last stop of my day – The Shard. The Shard is a 72-story skyscraper which is the tallest building in the United Kingdom at ~1000ft. It is a commercial building housing offices, hospitals, restaurants etc. I was visiting for the View from The Shard.

Traveling by escalator to the 68th floor, I arrived at a glass enclosed observation deck which gave 360 degree view of the London city. The panoramic night views of a lit-up London were fabulous and not to be missed.

Tip: One can order food and drinks from the restaurant inside this 3-storied deck and enjoy them while admiring the views.

Tickets (without Pass):

The Shard: £ 25

King's Cross!

Before I could call it a day, I made just one last impromptu stop – to Kings Cross station (it was on my way back, in my defense) and there I discovered the “Harry Potter shop at Platform 9.3/4”. I’m afraid I did quite a bit of shopping there! Muffler, mugs, pens etc. A must visit for Potterheads! That was it for the penultimate day of my London trip.

Day 6: Sky And Water

This was a Saturday so that meant my husband was off-work and we could enjoy my last day in London together. However, due to some circumstances, we had a late start to the day. The day was rainy and chilly. Our plan was to visit the Westminster Abbey and the London Eye.

Westminster Abbey is the site of royal coronations and weddings. It is a Gothic structure which is one of the most known cathedrals of UK. Unfortunately, just as we reached the gates of the chapel, the gates closed for entry for that week! I requested to let us through since I would be returning to India the next day but they didn’t budge. So, alas!, the Westminster Abbey was missed.

London Eye

We then turned towards the London Eye. The London Eye is a Ferris Wheel, one of the highest structures in UK, and is basically a rotating observation deck. We rode the London Eye – in the glass-cased capsules which slowly move up and then down in a 30-minute duration. I absolutely loved the 360 degree view of the London City from various angles. There is a guide map provided which points out what we are seeing on each side of the view. This is a must-do in London.

HMS Belfast

We strolled around the area simply enjoying the day when we chanced upon the HMS Belfast and decided to visit.

HMS Belfast was a cruiser built as part of the Royal Navy but is now a museum which stands permanently docked on the Thames close to the Tower Bridge. It has nine decks incorporating bunkers, kitchens & pantry, captain’s quarters etc. But the most notable or visit-worthy are the gun turret experience room on the deck and the boiler and engine rooms at the lower level. Its highly interesting to see the erstwhile workings of ship. We spent a good 45 minutes going over the ship because it was so intriguing! Also, don’t miss the view of the Thames from the bow of the ship!

Tickets (without Pass)

  • Westminster Abbey: £ 24
  • London Eye: £ 27
  • HMS Belfast: £ 22.70

So Long, London

The last night we spent the way we started – dinner and “adda” (bengali; means chatting) with friends, but not before we had another stroll through the twilight-lit city of London.

At the crack of dawn the next day, I left London to return home. The 7 days trip was an amazing one and I really loved it – there was history, there was magic, there was opulence and there was architectural beauty, all wrapped up in one city. I will return again someday!

The Improved Itinerary

In the 7 days, I took a trip to Ireland, I attended a match and I spent time with friends. Had I not had these I would have a full 7 days to visit London. So, here’s my 6-day London itinerary – based on what I saw and liked and what I missed but would have liked to see had I had some more time.

Day 1: Buckingham Palace including Changing of guards, Westminster Abbey

Day 2: Tower Bridge, Big Bus, Trafalgar Square (get off from Big Bus), Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus

Day 3: St. Paul’s Cathedral, Millennium Bridge, Borough Market, London Bridge, Walking tour (just walk around central hub of London), catch a West End show in the evening.

Day 4: Tower of London, Royal Greenwich Observatory, Cutty Sark

Day 5: Windsor Castle, The Shard

Day 6: London Eye, HMS Belfast, Kensington Palace and Gardens, Hyde Park

Day 7: Optional: If you’re a sports fan – visit Wimbledon/Lords/Wembley Stadium. Or, if you’re a Harry Potter fan, do the Warner Brothers Studio Tour. Or, explore the London Pass for hidden gems. Or, simply walk around and do some shopping for you and yours.

Tip: Apart from the Buckingham Palace and the Harry Potter tour, all are included in the London Pass and/or Explorer Pass.

Useful links:

Paris through new eyes

Europe, Paris, Travel / By / August 22, 2023

Part of the 2022-2023 year end trip with family. Read Part 1 here.

We meet again Paris!

Circumstances change viewpoints and traveling partners change itineraries. It’s not some deep philosophical thought, just an observation. This was my second visit to Paris; first one being a solo. While the itinerary was more relaxed because I now had a baby in tow, my perspective towards Paris changed either because the city itself has changed or because of the time of the year I chose to visit it this time.

The itinerary:

As I said, it was a pretty open plan; with only one booking – Eiffel Tower on the 31st of December and that was the grand plan. What we did come up with on the spot suited us so well though.

  • Eiffel Tower
  • Torcadero Pavillion
  • Arc De Triomphe
  • Montmartre
The family @Eiffel Tower

Day 1: NYE @ Eiffel Tower

Last day of year 2022, and we had an appointment with The Iron Lady in the afternoon. Even though we left with plenty of time on hand, with traffic delays and slow-moving buses, we almost missed our tour group! Thankfully we caught them. And then there it was…. The Eiffel Tower!

Yet again, the sheer size of it and the architecture impressed me. So did the views. A 360-degree panoramic view over the city of Paris on New Years Eve. Could it be any better? High up there, the wind pushed me around but learning about the history of the tower and various factoids about the city of love made my day. I will always say, this is a must-do and is definitely not overhyped.

After spending a good couple of hours there, we wrapped up for the day as it was getting dark and much too crowded (I know, I know – we were part of the crowd yes). Getting to the hotel though was quite a challenge as the metros and buses stopped at random stops and declared it as their last one! Being the 31st of December, metro tickets were free but most routes were cut short due to the NYE party at the Arc De Triomphe. So all roads leading to it were closed. Too much hassle.

Still, a nice dinner at a cozy restaurant returned me to my good mood.

Deserted streets

Day 2: Arches and Towers

Happy New Year! It was the first day of 2023 – all bright and sunny! Ahem, it was interspersed with drizzly bits unfortunately. This day and the next would be divide and conquer. My child was a bit sick so we decided to go out in pairs, so someone was always there with him. In the late afternoon, my mother and I went to see the Arc de Triomphe. For both of us, this was the first time seeing it.

How to get to it??

It was a task figuring out how to reach that structure – standing at the junction of a 4-way 2 street crossroads – without any discernible path. Turns out, it is reached via the subway. Tickets to climb the top can be bought at the booth located underground i.e. on the subway but you can book in advance online.

That day, it being New Year, the top was closed but we could visit the arch and study the intricate sculptures on its 4 sides up close. Just standing there and observing the interminable movement of people and cars under the setting sun was a nice time-out.

Next stop: Palais de Chaillot or The Trocadero or more specifically Parvis des droits de l’homme which is the forecourt in between the two wings of the Trocadero. This place gives the perfect viewpoint for the Eiffel Tower and superb for photo ops. We posed with an Eiffel Tower decked up in lights and was glad for this one in a million view.

At night, I dined in with the kid while the others went out for a fun Indian dining experience.

Day 3: Hills And Domes

Rainy day from the offset but that didn’t deter us. Last day in Paris needed to be treated as such. So we headed off early to Montmartre – a hill located in the 18th arrondissement of Paris – and on its peak, the Sacré-Cœur. You have to climb the literal hill partly on foot and partly via cable car/funicular; we chose to go on foot the whole way via the steps. The view was reward enough for the strenuous activity – Paris!

Montmartre is a town with cute houses, quaint cafes and lots of shopping! The Basilica itself is beautiful to look at, presenting a new view from different angles, the inside is interesting with its stained-glass paintings, sculptures and – for this particular time of the year – a Nativity scene! We lit candles in prayer and looked around the cathedral. Don’t forget to look up at the dome!

We did a wee bot of shopping after that (but of course) for cute knick-knacks and treated ourselves to savory crepes and coffee.

Tip: If you have time, let a street artist draw you a portrait in 20 minutes only! Or, explore this colorful, and very charming neighborhood.

Back "home"?

The time flew by and suddenly it was time to get back to real-life. From Gare du Nord station to Rotterdam in 3 hours via Thalys and we were back to our new home away from everything familiar. But we were on a holiday high which carried us through the next few months to help us settle in and call The Netherlands our home properly.

The Best of Zurich in 3 days

Europe, Travel, Zurich / By / August 22, 2023

A vacation – big or small – at the end of the year is a surefire way to get me in the best of moods for the incoming year, refreshing the mind and hitting the reset button on the worries of the bygone year.

I mentioned in my last post how my family and I have moved from India to The Netherlands few months ago. The change has been hard but not as hard as it could have been because my parents accompanied us to help us settle in, especially with an almost-toddler. It was an unparalleled extension of support; I mean, when do we not need our parents, right?

However, we needed a break from all the arrangements one must make when setting up a whole new life in a new country and also, we wanted to spend some time as a family to just “be”. Hence came the idea of a New Year’s trip. We did a bit of discussion on where and how long but logistics and budget aside, we decided we wanted to see Paris and Zurich (touristy much?). Thus was born the 7 day trip of dreams.

Spreading the Christmas cheer...

The Itinerary

With a 1-year-old in tow, sometimes it is really hard to plan, or rather it is hard to follow a plan. It’s important to plan in such a way that we can maximize the highlights of the place we are in but that must be spaced out so as not to tire out the kiddo – this we learnt during this trip. Thankfully, while the Zurich part of our trip was a bit packed, we’d left the 3 days in Paris mostly wide open to instant plans and ideas.

So, here is my 7 days trip to Zurich and Paris with a kid. Read on to know what is a must do and what can be skipped, what can be added to this itinerary which we didn’t have time for.

  • Days 1-3: Zurich
  • Day 4: Zurich to Paris
  • Days 5-7: Paris

Day 1: Zurich – The Lindt Chocolate Factory

This day had only one item on the agenda – The Lindt Chocolate Factory Tour. We arrived in Zurich early afternoon. Since check-in was late afternoon, we couldn’t really use the 2nd half of the day to our advantage, because all the paraphernalia of a kid – setting up, bathing, cooking, feeding – took a significant amount of time. So we arrived in downtown Zurich only in time for a late lunch and a brisk walk around the Limmat River towards our bus stop.

The factory is some way outside the city and takes about 30 minutes by bus from near the Zurich Lake. The factory closes at 7PM, and we only had a 5PM ticket (the only available slot left!) for our tour, so we didn’t want to be late.

Tip: Book your tickets well in advance as they are always in high demand and there are not too many slots available. Price of tickets: CHF 10. Check here for availability and booking.

The factory was an amazing experience. The first portion of the tour (guided audio tour) was in essence a museum, with history on the discovery and evolution of chocolate along with interesting artifacts and trivia. The second part is more interactive – with mock setups of actual factory processes AND the best part – chocolate tasting! Oh, it was divine!! Even if you are not a chocolate lover, you will love this place and it in fact, may convert you!

Tip: It’s mandatory for a car seat in Switzerland – even in an Uber – so make sure to book cabs/cars accordingly if you are travelling with an infant. (I mention this because it’s not “mandatory” everywhere in Europe.)

For dinner that night, we did an Uber Eats delivery to our hotel – the cold and the exhaustion got to us.

Day 2 – Lake Zurich and Rhine Falls with Stein-am-Rhein Tour

Thanks to my parents, who babysat on this 2nd day, my husband and I got a couple of hours’ time on our own which we used to take a trip downtown to stroll around Lake Zurich and have some (very pricey!) breakfast in the area. The bright sunshine sparkled onto the pretty Lake Zurich; it made for some very instagrammable snaps. A walk around the lake was so lovely and invigorating.

The pre-booked tour of Rhine Falls and Stein-am-Rhine started from Sihlquai Coach Parking near Zurich HBf station. Half an hour’s drive took us to the Rhine Falls. The Laufen Castle greeted us in its medieval cuteness. We, however, were eager to see the falls so we zoomed right past, thinking to save it for later. There are 2 ways to get to the falls – glass elevator with a panoramic view of the falls as you go down or, the long way hiking down stairs, which in my opinion is much better because it gives different amazing views every corner you turn.

We opted to walk down the stone steps. It’s a long way down and after every few landings, there are viewing platforms. While the view from the top is pretty special in itself, the scenery as you get closer to the falls is just unreal. The roaring water cascading down into the river is simply spellbinding and frankly quite thrilling because you get to stand really really close to the falls. The whole scenic route down took almost and hour and a half with pauses for photos an ofcourse to enjoy the falls itself. We came back up the glass elevator. However, it left us no time to explore the castle unfortunately.

Tip: Keep atleast 3 hours in hand so you can see it all – the falls and the Laufen Castle, plus some shopping and eating. There is a café and a couple of restaurants.

Stein-Am-Rhine

Stein-am-Rhein is a historic town and a municipality in the canton of Schaffhausen in Switzerland (source: Wikipedia), located on the Rhine river. It is known for its medieval houses with painted fronts. Our next and last stop of the tour was this village which is about 20-25 minutes from the Rhine falls and almost an hour away from Zurich.

A cute little cobblestoned road zigzagged through the houses which have interesting and attractive murals painted on them. The colorful street was filled with Christmas stalls selling all kinds of bakes and fried goodies. We walked through the street noting the architecture and various murals, and then going down to the river to watch the sunset. It was a glorious sight. Waffles and some croissants later, we were back on the bus for our drive back to Zurich.

Happily exhausted, we ended the day with pizza and burgers from a takeaway.

Day 3 – Lindenhof, Zurich highlights and Felsenegg Cable Car and Ferry Tour

Another trip was booked for our 3rd day in Zurich – A Zurich highlights tour along with Felsenegg Cable Car and Ferry ride. The tour started in the afternoon, so once again, we took the morning to take a trip downtown Zurich. But this time our destination was the Lindenhof Hill.

It’s a vantage point a few meters above the main level of the city. It is essentially a park-ground with trees, rugged paths and a fountain. In the 4th century a Roman fort stood on Lindenhof while  in the 9th century the grandson of Charlemagne built a regal palace as place of residence on this very same site (Source: zuerich.com). It was a place for gatherings and apparently, a meeting point for passionate chess players.

Because of the elevation, it provides pretty views over the city of Zurich, especially the Old Town. And that is what we were treated to as we climbed up the hill – yes, literally – to get the sun dappled Limmat River views.

Zurich City Highlights with Felsenegg Cable Car and Ferry Ride Tour

This afternoon, we boarded the bus for another 4-hour tour. This one too started from Sihlquai Coach Parking near Zurich HBf station. In fact, most trips booked via Booking.com or Get Your Guide or even Viator are ultimately locally conducted by Best of Switzerland Tours.

Starting from the city center around Lake Zurich, the bus puttered along the streets of Zurich while our guide pointed out various attractions like the National Museum, the Bahnhofstrasse shopping street, the financial district and the Zürich Opera House. We stopped at a few places for photos or a little bit of walking tour to look more closely at some sights.

We then headed off along the scenic Gold Coast towards Meilen to board the ferry to Adliswil. The whole bus actually boarded the ferry (!!) wherein we got off and headed to the upper deck for some lovely views of the lake. After the 10-minute ferry ride, the bus climbed steadily over the hilly roads of Adliswil towards Felsenegg mountain. Final leg of the journey was the cable car ride to the top of Felsenegg and then a short hike to the actual top. And oh wow, the panoramic views from up there were so pretty. At the top we had snacks and coffee at the only café there – the Felsenegg Café.

Refreshed, we made the journey back to our starting point – the coach terminus – by road. I thoroughly enjoyed this half day tour which had a bit of everything; from hiking, to ferry to cable cars!

Fondue!

I always google dishes that are a must eat at any new place – and I got to know that Zurich was famous for its fondue and luxembergeril (which are basically mini macaroons). That last night’s dinner was cheese fondue at the Swiss Chuchi restaurant and in the morning we had bought some macaroons and eclairs at the famous Sprungli Confiserie. While the fondue was very good, it was pretty expensive and to our shock came only with additional bread pieces to dip. We ordered some fried chicken to dip in as well but those weren’t very tasty (no seasoning). The restaurant had good service though and we were able to get a table pretty quickly considering, so I would still recommend a visit.

Onto the next Leg

Next day we left for Paris via the TGV train. Read all about my 2nd trip to Paris in the upcoming post.

Must Dos

  • Enjoy Zurich Lake views
  • Walk along Limmat River
  • Walk onto Lindenhof Hill
  • Visit Lindt Chocolate Factory
  • Take the Felsenegg Cable car and hike upto Felsenegg top
  • Half day trip to Rhine Falls (can skip the Stein Am Rhein)
  • Eat Fondue and macaroons

For now, I leave you with my final thoughts on Zurich, Switzerland. It is pretty, public transportation is great and there are some amazing sights to see but it is really really expensive place. It will break your pocket to eat out well. Plan accordingly and if you are okay with fast food takeaways, do that.

But still, we had  a great time and left with some sweet memories.

Back with a Bang – A Long Hiatus!

Travel / By / August 22, 2023

“Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can’t afford to lose.” —Thomas Edison

Hello…It’s been a long hiatus from writing. I missed it sorely. Time was a resource available in
scant quantities but over and above that, the mind-space required to just sit down and pen something was just not there.

A Change

My family and I went through a huge life change – we moved from our home country to a
European country. We all hear or see our acquaintances or friends/relatives move to foreign lands, but one can never know the reality of such a big transformation. I had started to write a series of posts just before our move to document all stages but the toll of it all just overtook me. The physical and mental exhaustion is real.

Time to write again

It’s now been 5 months and we are more or less “settled”. So now I have decided that it’s high time I got back to what I love – writing. I will eventually get to writing that series of “moving to a new country”, but for now it’s back to basics – all about my travels. Coming up next week on my insta – photos of my latest trip and on my blog –  the new year’s trip of dreams – Paris and Zurich.

Meanwhile, I leave you with a few pictures of my new home-land – The Netherlands…

Top 10 Things to Do In Chicago

Chicago, Travel, USA / By / August 22, 2023

I visited the ‘Windy City’ – Chicago – back in 2018 as part of my work trip (as I mostly do) to visit one of my best friends who stays in a suburb called Naperville. That trip was one of my favorite trips because I got to spend my first trip to USA with my dearest friend.

The Windy City

Situated on the banks of Lake Michigan, Chicago is one of the largest cities in the USA. The origin of the name Windy City is not clear; some say its because of the winds (obvious explanation) while others say its because of politics! Anyhow, Chicago is a lively city with some truly wonderful places to see and enjoy. It is known for its eclectic architecture, its skyscrapers and its museums. It is always bustling with activity and there’s an ever-present sound of ambulances in the background for some reason!

MY Top 10 List

There are many must-do or to-do lists on Chicago. My list is based on best of all worlds, a little of everything thrown in. Here’s MY top 10 things to do in Chicago.

  1. Visit the Chicago Bean (Millennium Park)
  2. Walk the Magnificent Mile
  3. Stroll through the Navy Pier, ride the Centennial Wheel
  4. Take the Chicago Architectural River Cruise
  5. Go to the Buckingham Fountain
  6. Be fascinated by the Shedd Aquarium
  7. Get a bird’s eye view of the city from the Skydeck
  8. Take a water taxi
  9. Have a deep dish pizza
  10. Visit the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago Bean / Millennium Park

The Chicago Bean, so nicknamed because of its shape, is officially named Cloud Gate. This is a steel structure whose extremely polished surface reflects Chicago’s skyline. The Bean was designed by Anish Kapoor as part of a design competition, and is the centerpiece of the AT&T plaza at Millennium Park (source: Wikipedia). Stroll through the park and then walk over to The Bean. You will be impressed by the shiny sculpture and Chicago’s warped skyline projected on its surface.

$$ Free

The Magnificent Mile

This is a stretch of road in Chicago which sports famous buildings and luxury shops. Take a walk and admire some of the tallest buildings ever, such as The John Hancock Center, The Wrigley Building, the Tribune Tower etc. Stop and shop – if you dare! – at one of the most upscale shopping districts in the America. Apparently, the rent here is the third most expensive in the United States! (Source: Wikipedia)

$$ Free, except any shopping you do of course!

Navy Pier

This is one of Chicago’s must do things. The Navy Pier is a pier (of course) on Lake Michigan which houses amusement parks, attractions, exhibitions/shows, restaurants and shops. Soak up  the culture, enjoy the view, be entertained and treat your tastebuds at this hotspot of activities. You can ride the Centennial Wheel too.

$$ 20

Chicago Architectural River Cruise

This 90-minute tour (general duration) is a guided tour which takes you through the Y-shaped river pointing out the various skyscrapers of the Chicago skyline, their history, the era of architecture and the famous buildings like Trump Tower, Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building etc. along the way. It is a fascinating tour where you learn so much but are still entertained while you move slowly up and down the river.

$$ 35-40

A Champagne bottle shaped building
Trump Tower
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Buckingham Fountain

One of the largest fountains in the world, the Buckingham Fountain is a majestic tiered-cake shaped water feature. It’s unique characteristic is a 150-foot high water jet which shoots up in the air every hour for 20 minutes. In the evening, the fountain is lit up and there is a light and musical display along with the jet. Check out it’s timing and operating hours here.

$$ Free

Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world. It has an amazing diversity of fishes, amphibians, and other marine inhabitants like seahorse, jellyfish, seals, whales, whatnot! It has some truly enthralling and entertaining displays. I especially loved the dolphin show. Read about my visit here.

$$ 40

Coral
Seahorse
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Skydeck / Willis Tower

The 103rd floor of the Willis Tower in Chicago has a 360 degree observation deck called the Skydeck. The best – and dangerous – part is the all-glass box ledge where you can step out for an exhilarating view 103 stories down! Experience that moment of fear just before you step out into seeming nothingness and look straight down to the road 1353 ft. below.

$$ 28-35

Water Taxi

These operate on Lake Michigan to and from Navy Pier. While the river cruise is a slow, leisurely ride through the river, a water taxi is quite exciting out on the lake with gulls and the boat at super speed!

$$ 10

Deep Dish Pizza

This is an iconic Chicago dish, so called because of its high sided crust which gives it an almost pie like appearance. The high sides enable enough space for generous amounts of sauce and toppings or rather fillings. It is a yummy treat! It will be available at most Italian joints in Chicago.

$$ 15-20

Art Institute of Chicago

It is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world. It hosts legendary artwork like Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist, Grant Wood’s American Hawk and such like. It contains nearly 300,000 works of art apart from special exhibitions (source: Wikipedia). It is also known as the place where Swami Vivekananda gave his famous speech, to commemorate which the speech is printed and highlighted on the steps of the Art Institute.

$$ 19

Honorary Mention

I was coincidentally in Chicago during the 4th of July weekend which is one of the biggest celebrations in the USA. On that day, I got to experience a quintessential american barbecue at the beach! It was a fun day.

It's a curated list but all expansive

These are the things which I did during my own 2 days’ visit of Chicago, except the last one. 3 days should be enough to cover everything easily and at a leisurely pace. I did them all except the last one because I ran out of time. This list was curated based on some of the famous attractions along with one museum – which I substituted for the aquarium – and some exciting activities. It covers walks, food, art and culture so it’s the best of all worlds. Be sure to do most of these things when in Chicago to get a taste of this vibrant city.

London Journals – Part 2

London, Travel / By / August 22, 2023

A 6 day London Travel Story – Part 2

This is part 2 or the the 2nd half of my 6 day London trip. The two halves were punctuated by a day’s trip to Cork in Ireland. Read about Part 1 here, where I visited Buckingham Palace, Harry Potter Studio Tour, the Tower Bridge, Covent Garden and Borough Market and took a ride on the Hop On Hop Off Big Bus to view all the major attractions of London.

We returned from Cork late evening on the Wednesday of that week. A quick dinner and we were done for the day.

Hello Again London!

Day 4: History and Geography

I set out early the next day because there was 2 main stops to cover that day, plus our hotel was actually on the outskirts of London and it took me quite some time to get to Central London.

Tower of London

The Tower of London is a 1000-year old royal castle, fortress and prison built as part of the Norman conquest. The Tower of London now serves as a fortress to protect the Crown Jewels and also houses the Royal Armouries.

I took a guided Yeoman Warder tour who narrated stories about the castle’s history and the executions and tortures held at the prison. The prison stories were pretty bloody. Then I got to take a look at the famous Crown Jewels – a fascinating collection from around the world including the Indian subcontinent. There was also a tour of the White Tower – which gives its name to the whole castle – which was the home of Kings and Queens and their animals especially the ravens.

Tip: The Yeoman Warder tours take place at 30 minutes’ interval whereas the White Tower tours are at specific times and are subject to availability. So time your visit accordingly.

Royal Observatory, Greenwich

This is the part where I stood with a foot in each of the western and eastern hemispheres! I was at the Prime Meridian where time started, known as the Greenwich Mean Time or GMT. I was going to visit The Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

After I was done with the Tower of London tour – over 3 hours – I made my way to the ferry terminal nearby to board the cruise ship to Greenwich; it was free with my London Pass. The cruise was with live commentary on the history of various buildings/monuments we could see from the ferry and some fun facts as well a like which was the house of a famous Aamerican actor. The ferry ride and the walk from the pier to the Royal Observatory via Greenwich Park was very pleasant.

I made a beeline for the 0 deg 00’ 00” longitude – the Prime Meridian – and stood with one foot on each side. A mini photo session ensued. Then I took a tour through Flamsteed House which was the original Royal Observatory building built by Charles II and designed by Wren, which is now a museum devoted to time and timekeeping, measuring and telling of time. It was fascinating! I saw so many different types of clocks, watches, the original method of using a sundial etc.

Tip: The Royal Observatory is part of the Royal Museums Greewnwich which also includes the Cutty Sark (a merchant vessel now a museum), National Maritime Musuem and the Queen’s House (which houses an internationally renowned art collection). If you have time, do visit these as well.

Cruise view - on the way to Greenwich
Cruise view - on the way to Greenwich
Under the Tower Bridge
Under the Tower Bridge
Greenwich Park...so lovely!
Greenwich Park...so lovely!
Balancing Two Worlds! @ 00 deg. 00' 00"
Balancing Two Worlds! @ 00 deg. 00' 00"
Ye Olde Sundial
Ye Olde Sundial
How the time was measured - I checked its accurate
How the time was measured - I checked its accurate
On the way back from Greenwich
On the way back from Greenwich
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Lunch! Pie and mash with Gravy

Tickets (without Pass)

  • Tower of London: £ 29.90
  • Royal Greenwich Observatory: £ 16

Waka Waka - A New Experience!

Before my visit, I had lunch in Greenwich itself – another English classic – pie and mash with gravy. This one was quite yummy! I spent about an hour at the Observatory after which it was time to head back to London, specifically to Stamford Bridge in Fulham. I was about to watch my one and only (to date) live football match! I don’t follow football at all but my husband does and he is a Chelsea fan. So I accompanied him to his first live international match, along with our friends.

I must say it was an invigorating experience. The huge stadium, the astonishingly green field, the ambiance, the fast paced match and the athleticism of the players. I kinda loved it. I would do the live thing again but the sport unfortunately still holds no appeal for me.

After the match, we had dinner – steak and fries – at this Tex-Mex restaurant nearby called Yucca. The food was just delicious! One tube ride later we were back at the hotel and ready to call it a day.

The food after @Yucca

Day 5: A Castle, A Sport and A View

Wimbledon

Today’s agenda included one of my fandom-based places – Wimbledon stadium. This was my first stop of the day. A train and a bus ride took me to the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Using my London Pass, I booked a ticket to the 90-minute guided tour of the stadium and grounds including the Press Room and the Centre Court! After the tour, I visited the Wimbledon Museum for all tennis related history and memorabilia. Read about my post regarding the Wimbledon visit here. 

From the AELTC, I took a train to Windsor; a journey of over 1 hour. I was famished by the time I reached so I took time to eat lunch at Nando’s.

@Wimbledon - In the Press Room

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is a royal residence for British royal family members. I visited the castle after my lunch where I took the free audio-guide which came with the ticket and guided myself through the castle. I strolled through The State Apartments – where the rooms were unimaginably lavish, St. George’s Chapel – of Gothic architecture and the glass paintings were gorgeous, and the Moat and Towers. It was a huge area and I loved the whole tour of the castle in the lovely weather as well as the scenic views from up hill (which is where the tower is located). The tour took about 1.5 hours which is the minimum time needed to see everything.

Tip: Check castle timings before tour visit especially the different sections because they have separate times for last entry of the day. 

Tip: Photography is not allowed inside but you can take pictures of the view and the castle from outside.

Tickets (without Pass)

  • Wimbledon: £ 25
  • Windsor Castle: £ 26.50

A lot to consume in a day but I had room for more!

Find out about the ending to this day – the “View” and about my last day in London in Part 3.

Useful links:

London Journals – Part 1

London, Travel / By / August 22, 2023

A 6 day London Travel Story

All of my international trips bar one have been for work purposes. I take some extra time apart from the working days to enjoy the place to myself. But the trip to London was only the second time that I traveled for leisure. The only one other time was on my honeymoon in Maldives. But London was sort of solo travel – so it was really special. I say sort of because I accompanied my husband on his work trip – he worked while I enjoyed London solo to my heart’s content. Evenings and weekends, though, were a couple’s trip.

There’s so much to do and see in London that I ran out of time! My own itinerary was tailored to what I like but I will suggest alternatives for some places I know are too customized i.e., fandom based. So without further ado, here’s my London travel story.

London Baby!

Friends fans will understand the header above – Joey exclaiming when he visits London. My feelings and excitement was similar. My husband and I arrived in London early evening on a Saturday. After reaching our hotel, dumping our luggage and freshening up, we went out to meet a college friend of ours. The evening turned into night as we chatted, reminisced about college and made plans for the next day.

Passes - Which one?

Passes make sightseeing cheaper, within budget. The cost of a pass is lesser than the entry for all attractions put together. Also there are jump-the-queue facilities and other offers on dining as well. There are different kinds of passes available:

  • London Pass – day based, includes 90+ attractions along with Big Bus, river cruise, walking tour, hotel drop off services. £ 89 for a 2 day or £ 98 for a 3 day pass.
  • Sightseeing Pass – day based, includes 55+ attractions along with special offers like bicycle tours,  HOHO bus tours etc. £ 74.40 (2 days) or £ 99.20 (3 days).
  • Explorer Pass – based on number of attractions, includes about 60 attractions. £ 34 (2 choices), £ 49 (3 choices).
  • Oyster Card – travel card for London underground, buses etc.

My trip was broken into 2 parts with a day in Cork, Ireland. So, taking the day based pass wasn’t feasible since, once activated, the pass would be valid for continuous days. Also the cost for a 6-day pass was too high. Upon several calculations, I took a combination – a 3 day London Pass along with an Oyster card and a 3-attraction Explorer Pass.

Royals and Magic

Buckingham Palace

Day 1’s plan was just 2 places / attractions. First was, what else?! The Buckingham Palace. We made sure to be in time for the Changing of Guards ceremony. It was an hour long event, very interesting to experience. The on-duty guards at the Buckingham Palace hand over their duties to the new shift inside the palace grounds and do a parade round the street in front before leaving. It involves horses, marching bands and swords! I felt lucky to have seen it because that was the last day of the year when it was being held, after which the Queen would shift to her winter residence.

Tip: Change of guards ceremony is not held everyday, and there have been changes due to Covid. Please check this website before planning your trip.

After the ceremony, we booked tickets for the tour of the palace. We managed to get the last tickets (!!!) for that year’s palace tour! 

Tip: The Palace is open to visitors for only ten weeks in the summer, so be sure to check the dates before planning your trip and book tickets accordingly.

We had some time on our hands before the tour so we walked around the neighbourhood, upto London Bridge. We saw the London Eye, the Big Ben – then under renovation, Westminster Chapel and the Thames. Just walking around a city gives a feel for the vibe of the city and I loved it. For lunch, we had the quintessential english dish – Fish and Chips! Sadly, it was just average.

Lunch done, we walked back to Buckingham Palace for the tour. The Buckingham Palace is one of the few working royal palaces today. It is the headquarters of the Monarchy as well as the home of the Queen. We got a glimpse into the Queen’s residence – the Throne Room, the Ballroom, the Grand Staircase and various other State rooms and some part of the magnificent Royal Collection. It takes close to an hour to do the tour; to complete, wander the gardens and do stop at the shop for souvenirs.

Tip: Photography is prohibited inside but one can take pictures from the gardens of the palace building as well as the from the outside when you are done with the Changing of Guards ceremony.

Apart from the Palace tour itself, one can also visit the Royal Mews where lies the historic coaches and carriages as well as the working Royal Stables. The Mews is responsible for travel arrangements of all the Royal family members. We unfortunately had to skip this due to time shortage.

Tickets (not included in any pass): £ 30

Harry Potter Studio Tour, Warner Brothers

Then, it was time for the best part of my London trip – I’m saying this unashamedly – the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Leavesden. I was there for 4 hours but was still left wanting for more. There was so much to enjoy there – its a must for any Harry Potter fan. There’s Diagon Alley, there’s the Forbidden Forest, the dormitories, wand lessons and what not! I have written a whole post about this part of the trip. Check it out here. https://nilsaroundtheworld.com/potter-mania-warner-bros-studio-tour-london/

 Tickets (not included in pass): £ 49.95

All The Cool Places

Tower Bridge

This was a Monday so it meant work for the husband while I set off to ramble around London. My first stop of the day was the Tower Bridge. The Tower Bridge is London’s defining landmark – the bridge with 2 towers and a span that opens up to let boats through. Established in 1894, it is a bascule (opens up in 2 parts) cum suspension bridge with twin walkways at the higher levels connecting the 2 towers.

As part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition Tour, I went up 206 steps to the North Tower. There was a short film about the Tower telecasting on the screen. Then I walked across the bridge over the glass bottom walkway! It was scary; it felt like I was stepping into the deep waters below! The views from up there are wonderful – the whole vista of London city with the Thames flowing calmly in between. Upon reaching the South Tower on the other side, I walked down the steps to reach the Engine Rooms below. The Engine Rooms are from where the original steam engines were operated to draw up and lower the bascules. It was very interesting indeed.

Tip: There is a shop after this at the lower level, you can buy some interesting mementos here. Pass holders get discounts on items in the shop.

I took a walk around the area after my Tower Bridge tour along the Thames bank, enjoying the sunshine and having an ice cream cone. I sat down at a random bench and just soaked up the day as I gazed at the river and the boats. Then I took off walking again towards the St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

The Hop on Hop Off (HOHO) Big Bus Tour is a way to see all the city’s prominent and some not so prominent areas and attractions in a sort of bird’s eye view. It also helps plan your itinerary in more detail. This day, I boarded the Big Bus at the tail end of my meandering walk – from the Cathedral stop. That’s the beauty of the HOHO bus – I could get on at any point and get off at any other one as per my wish. The bus took me throughout the city as I learned about the city’s as well as the different monuments’ history through the very interesting live commentary on board.

Tip: There are 4 routes of the Big Bus which take you through the various areas – Central London, (Red) West London (Blue) etc. Choose the route accordingly or you may take them all. Ask about which bus it is before boarding at any stop.

Self Walking Tour

I got off the bus at its London Bridge stop. This part is the self-guided walking tour. I saw (and walked over) the London Bridge – is isn’t falling down!, the Monument – a tribute to the Great Fire of London, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square. I ended the day with some memento shopping near the area. Then it was dinner with my husband and his colleague at a cute little pub in a small alley near our hotel.

Tickets (without Pass)

  • Tower Bridge: £ 10.60
  • Big Bus: £ 31.20 (1 day)
  • HMS Belfast: £ 22.70
  • London Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square – Free

Half Day Tour of Landmarks

Covent Garden, Millennium Bridge, Borough Market

I started the day with collection of my passes; I had booked all of them online. From there I walked to my first stop of the day – Covent Garden. It was a lively market with variety of shops, so colourful. I checked out a few shops – chocolates, perfumes, tea. In the end though, I didn’t really buy anything. I did walk around and enjoy live music being played. I had such a good time.

Next stop – Millennium Bridge. This is a pedestrian bridge which I liked because of its intriguing design. It is connected on one end to St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern Museum on the other. It makes for very Instagram-worthy photos.

Last stop on my half day tour was the Borough Market. Borough Market is one of London’s oldest and largest market. I read about this on a blog and was immediately interested. It lived up to ,y expectations and then some! There are foods of various cultures and cuisines – from raw fresh produce to cheeses to delicious hot food. The smells were amazing. I had this lip-smacking yummy sandwich made of spit roast porchetta. I left with the happy smile of a well-fed person.

That was it for the first 3 days of my London trip. On this 3rd day, my husband and I took a flight to Cork for his work purposes. We were there for the next day when I went about enjoying Cork. Read about it here.

For the second half of my London trip, watch out this space for The London Journals – Part 2.

Onto Cork we go

Trek to the Moon Lake – An 8-day Lahaul-Spiti Experience – Part 3

Asia, Himalayas, India, Travel / By / April 23, 2022

The year – 2019. The place – Himachal Pradesh. The travelers – my husband and myself.

We had just reached the campsite for penultimate day’s stay in Chandratal. Read about the first part of our trip and our journey to this place here in Part 1 and Part 2.

After lunch and rest, began the final leg of our trip.

The Mini-trek

Chandratal – “taal” meaning lake – is situated at an elevation of 14000ft and is a holy lake. It is a mountain lake – nestled at the base of and surrounded by mountains. We started our trek towards the lake at around half past three in the afternoon by following a path just behind our campsite. We walked through grass covered hills, flowers here and there and were greeted by sheep once. Through it all we had the nippy mountain air and the gorgeous Himalayas as our guide.

Up and down through arcs and troughs we went until suddenly we realized we were lost! We were supposed to have reached the lake by now but we didn’t seem to be even close. There were no maps – Google or otherwise – to help us. So, we backtracked a bit till we could see the vehicle-road below and then followed the trail parallel through it. Finally, finally, after we had crested a small hillock, we could see the lake from above! What a wondrous sight! Hues of green and blue merging with each other and the white-peaked mountains all around.

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Chamdratal!
Chamdratal!
Us :)
Us 🙂
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In Panorama

Tip: Vehicles aren’t allowed right up to the lake. There is a particular point upto which vehicular movement is restricted after which one will need to hike to the lake. We took the more meandering and circuitous trekking route to the lake. The more conventional route is via car to the last point allowed for cars and then the small walk.

In the light of the setting sun, we hiked back to the camp via the road route. We were greeted by tea and maggi back at the camp. Ah, bliss! Once dark, the temperature dropped to single digits and we were left shivering. So we quickly ducked back to the dining camp for hot soup. Barely an hour later, we had our dinner and then we were ready to bunk down.

Day 8: Chandratal to Manali

At the crack of dawn the next day, we had to start for Manali. We started off after a quick tea consumed standing up and with our breakfast packed. The reason for this was the melting of glaciers as the day wore on. With the rising sun, the glaciers melt and overrun the road thereby making passage difficult. Guided by the Chenab River this time, we drove on, sometimes between walls of snow higher than our car, sometimes right by the gushing river and sometimes with the mountains up close to us. We stopped for lunch at Chhatru – hot paranthas with achhar – and then were quickly back on the road.

At Chhatru

We faced trouble in paradise shortly after lunch. Our car broke down! Amidst mounting tension, our driver and we tried to think of ways to reach Manali. Eventually we got a lift in a car whose driver was a friend of our driver – thank the HP drivers’ community.

Our one stop before Manali – Rohtang Pass. At the snow clad Rohtang, we stopped to admire the view but declined from playing about in the snow. We made it to Manali late evening. Evening was spent on a leisurely walk through Manali’s mall road and we returned to our hotel after dinner at the mall.

Rohtang Pass

Final day: Half day Manali trip & Return to Mumbai

The next day was a relaxed one to “recuperate” from our vacation. Just one small visit to the Hadimba Devi Temple where we offered our prayers in gratitude for our trip. A little bit of shopping and we were ready for our return to Mumbai.

Hadimba Devi Temple

The amazing adventures of Spiti

While it may seem like a hectic trip with one night at each place, in reality there wasn’t any running from one attraction to the next. Spiti is all about the journey, the scenery and the company of loved ones. There is no mobile network (except for BSNL, I’m told) and so it is refreshing change from social media, work and news. Spiti is a place to just be, to absorb the beauty and bounty of nature.

Tips for Spiti:

Some other places to visit in Spiti are:

  • Chitkul
  • Kibber (known for snow leopards)
  • Losar

You can change the itinerary to just pass by some of the places and/or to stay the night in the ones we passed by eg. Dhankar or Nako.

Best time to visit: Pre-monsoons to winter are the times to visit but as per me, best time is the pre monsoon where you can enjoy the desert mountain scenery to its utmost. Monsoons are a little dangerous with respect to roads while winter can cause heavy snowfall thereby blocking out some of these places entirely. And, all white may be a different kind of pretty but will not give you the effect of the “desert” beauty.

Weather: During pre monsoons, weather is cool to chilly during the night and warm during the day. In Chandrataal though, due to the winds, it is chilly during the day and quite cold during the night. Suit up accordingly.

Best way to travel: By car, in a group so that expenses are divided is the best way to travel.

Expenses: We had medium budget stays in some places and some basic ones. Local food mostly vegetarian with eggs was what we consumed. We, a couple, traveled by car so that cost wasn’t shared. Our cost for the trip was around ₹75,000. For a larger group – optimum 4 – this will be lesser.

This is a jewel of Himachal, plan your trips soon!

The Spiti Way – An 8-day Lahaul-Spiti Experience

Asia, Himalayas, India, Travel / By / April 18, 2022

The year – 2019. The place – Himachal Pradesh. The travelers – my husband and myself.

One of the most scenic and traversed routes in the Himachal is the Spiti and Lahaul Valley circuit. It takes a minimum of 8 days to cover the bare essentials of this gorgeous trip; ours was of 9 days. It is somewhat of a hectic trip but being surrounded by nature’s serene beauty, it didn’t feel that way at all.

The Route

Spiti and Lahaul valley is dotted with numerous villages along its entire route; however we chose our circuit based on distances and locations we wanted to visit most and were feasible in the time span we had.

Our final route, starting from Shimla via car was:

Sarahan – Kalpa – Pin Valley – Nako – Tabo – Dhankar – Kaza – Ki-Kibber – Langza-Komic-Hikkim and finally the star Chandratal Lake! We ended our trip in Manali via Rohtang Pass.

Some of these were small villages we visited enroute to our final destination for the day while the rest were our night stops in major (relatively) towns. While most people do the circuit the other way round – from Lahaul to Spiti – we chose to do it the Spiti-Lahaul way.

The Valley

Lahaul and Spiti is the desert of the mountains. Nestled among The Himalayas, it is an area which receives minimum rainfall; in fact, rainfall is actually harmful to majority of the region. The two valleys are separated by Kunzum Pass or Kumzum La. The average elevation is around 14000 ft. which gives it pleasantly cool weather during the summer and monsoon seasons and biting cold during the winter.

The arid desert mountains of Spiti

Preparations

Conveyance: Spiti can be reached via air, bus or car. The best way to travel though, is by car. One can get to enjoy the scenery of the land and the mountains while traveling in a car. We hired a car from Chandigarh (start) to Manali (end) to cover the entire circuit; this was done with references online and then via phone.

Bookings: We only booked our hotel in Kaza for 2 nights’ stay and that in Manali for 2 nights. The rest of our night halts were on the advise of our driver who guided us to the best places to stay in locally.

Our transport for the whole trip

Itinerary

Day 1: Shimla to Sarahan

We flew from Mumbai to Chandigarh on an early morning flight (read: inhuman hour) and then took a cab from Chandigarh to Shimla. After a quick lunch in Shimla, we started off.

Here onwards started our trip – from the Shimla district. While our initial plan for the day’s pit stop was Narkanda, we finally drove further on to end our day at Sarahan. It was night by the time we reached so we freshened up and just crashed for the night.

Day 2: Sarahan, onto Kalpa

The next day dawned bright and clear. We woke up early to poke around Sarahan a little bit and to look at the views. Sarahan is known for the Bhimkali Temple which is the home of the revered goddess Bhimkali. We offered our prayers and receives blessings from the goddess for our onwards journey.

At a tiny eatery nearby, we had a breakfast of Maggi and momos and we were ready for the day. We started for Kalpa, driving along the Sutlej River to enter the Kinnaur. The gushing river, the tall mountains and the greenery along with the cool weather made for such a pleasant journey. After all, it’s the journey that matters!

We reached our day’s destination in the early evening. After we put up at our hotel, we set out on foot to explore Kalpa.

KALPA

The three main attractions in Kalpa are:

  1. Narayan Nagini Temple
  2. Hu Ba Lan Kar Monastery
  3. Kinnaur-Kailash Range

We visited the beautiful monastery and paid our respects but unfortunately the temple was closed. We admired the beautiful pagoda style architecture and the splendid view of the mountains from the temple’s courtyard. After a leisurely walk around the village, we returned to our hotel.

Over hot pakodas and tea, with a view of the gorgeous Kinnaur-Kailash range, we spent our evening chatting away. It was such a relaxing day – an idyllic location, comfort food and great company.

Tip: Other things to do in Kalpa –

  1. Visit Sapni Fort
  2. Go to Roghi Village
  3. Hiking to Chaka

Day 3: Kalpa to Nako & Tabo

Once again, we had an early start to the day. In the hills, that’s the way to be. One hot breakfast later, we were on our way to the Spiti Valley. Driving through gorgeous mountain scenery, still following River Sutlej, we were enchanted. At Khab Sangam, we stopped for tea and to stretch our legs. This was the confluence of the rivers Sutlej and Spiti. We broke off to the left to finally enter Spiti Valley. Here the river was more voluminous and deep – the lifeblood of the valley.

NAKO

Our first stop in Spiti was Nako, where we reached in the afternoon. We stopped here for lunch and for Nako’s most famous atrraction – Nako Lake. This mountain lake, surrounded by trees is considered to be a scared lake by the locals. We spent a serene hour sitting at the lake and admiring the beautiful surroundings.

Tip: Other things to do in Nako is to visit the Nako Monastery.

TABO

Soon it was time to get back on the road to our sojourn through Spiti. In the early hours of the evening, we reached Tabo. This charming town was our halt for the day. Eager to explore the town, we quickly dumped our stuff and took off walking. Soon we came upon a path taking us up a hillock overlooking the town and set upon it. Huffing and puffing our way up, we reached the top and sat down on a rock to look at the wonderful panorama in front of us. Cute little houses interspersed with greenery nestled at the foot of the Himalayan mountains – what a sight to behold. We sat there till the light faded away and we returned to a sumptuous dinner at our hotel.

Tip: There are actually some caves atop that hillock and the more adventurous person can venture inside but we opted out due to tiredness and the imminent darkness.

On the way to Tabo
On the way to Tabo
Desert deer
Desert deer
Views from atop the hills in Tabo
Views from atop the hills in Tabo
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Day 4: Tabo, onwards to Dhankar and Pin Valley

TABO Pt. 2

Today held something exciting for me – I was going to go on a mini trek. But before that, there was Tabo to discover to our heart’s content. After breakfast in the quaint little dining room of our hotel – wooden benches and floor seating -, we went walking around Tabo.

The Tabo Monastery is over 1000 years old! It contains hand painted murals, painted tapestries, scrolls etc. The monastery grounds contains other structures built of clay and mud, and there are collections of flat stones which the Buddhists amass for good luck. The stones are inscribed with their prayer – “Om Mani PadMe Hum”.

There’s also a newer monastery – Chorten – which is a modern brick structure and more colorful and sporting and beautiful stupa. We couldn’t enter this one though, because it wasn’t open yet.

From there, we took a walk down to the river bank where the Spiti river flowed gaily. We did some shopping of prayer flags, artefacts and such. Then came the time to start our day’s journey – onwards to Dhankar. It was noon by the time we reached.

Dhankar!

My Spiti story continues in the next part, coming soon! There’s so much still left, keep an eye on this space.

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